China's Imports: Impact and Evaluation (Foreign Investment in China)

Since the beginning of reform in 1978, the Chinese import industry has expanded quickly in the wake of the rapidly growing merchandise trade. In 1978, the total value of Chinese import and export trade was USD $20.64 billion, up to $1.76069 trillion in 2006, an 84.3-fold increase. Imports alone over that period rose from USD $10.89 billion to $791.61 billion, a 71.69-fold increase. Beginning in 2003, China has been the world's third largest importer for four consecutive years. Judging from the import growth trends in recent years, it is likely that China will soon be second to only the United States in imports. This book discusses the full impact of imports on China's economy and the implications for China's trading partners and the world. The effects and composition of China's imports are examined in detail and the future trends of imports are explored. Import regulation is also examined and the risk of imports on China's economy is discussed. China's trade is central to the global economy, and this book provides a valuable Chinese perspective on this topic. (Series: Foreign Investment in China) Cover 1 Title 3 Contents 5 Part One: General Report 7 One- The Historical Development and Current Situationof Imports 7 Two- The Effects of Imports 10 Three- Development Trends of Imports 20 Four- The “Secure Development” Import Strategy and Accompanying Measures 24 Five- Implementing The Import Strategy 26 Six- Establishing an Import Regulation System in Adherence with WTO Regulations 30 Seven- A Three-in-One Import Risk Prevention and Warning System 38 Part Two: Research on China’s Import Development Strategy 47 General Introduction China’s Import Strategy 49 One- A Review of Past Chinese Trade Strategies 49 Two- The Development Trends of Chinese Imports 57 Three- The Positive Effects and Potential Harms of Imports on the Domestic Economy 60 Four- Major Issues Within Foreign Trade 64 Five- China’s Import Strategy 66 Sub-report One: Analysis of the Course ofDevelopment of Trade and Factors Affecting Importsin China Since Reform and Opening 69 One- The Development course of China’s Import TradeSince Reform and Opening 69 Two- Analysis of China’s International and Domestic Import Environments 80 Three- Analysis of the Factors Influencing Chinese Imports, Today and Tomorrow 92 Four- Conclusions 96 Sub-report Two: Analysis of the Effects of China’s Imports 99 One- Analysis Framework and Ideology 99 Two- Empirical Research on the Effects of Imports 99 Three- Empirical Research on the Effects of Imports and Chinese Technological Advances 105 Four- Empirical Research into the Effects of Imports 123 Five- Empirical Research on the Effects of Imports The Environmental and Societal Impacts of Imports 130 Six- Conclusions 131 Sub-report Three: Development Trends of Chinese Imports 132 One- Growth Trends of the Scale of Imports 132 Two- Development Trends of the Structure of Imports 139 Three- Summary 153 Background Report- The Scientific Development Perspective and Trade Strategy 154 One Conclusions and Recommendations 185 Part Three: China’s Regulatory Policies on Imports 189 Chapter One- Summary of Import Regulatory Policies 191 One- Chinese Import Regulations Before the WTO 191 Two- Major Promises Within the WTO Accession Protocols Related to Imports and Improvements to Corresponding Regulations 192 Three- The Current State of Import Regulations 194 Four- Major Problems in Import Regulation at Present 201 Chapter Two- Comparative Research of Import Regulation Institutions in Developing Nations 207 BRAZIL 208 One- The Evolution of Brazil’s Import Regulation System 208 Two- The Present Condition of Brazil’s Import Regulatory System 211 Three- Lessons 216 INDIA 220 One- India’s Import Regulatory Departments and Legal System 220 Two- The Fundamental Situation of India’s Import Regulatory Institutions 221 Three- Lessons 228 RUSSIA 230 One- Russia’s Import Regulatory Departmentsand Legal System 230 Two- The Fundamental Situation of Russia’s Import Regulatory Institutions 231 Three- Lessons 235 Chapter Three- WTO General Exceptions and Import Risk Prevention 238 Section One- A Summary of WTO General Exceptions 238 Section Two- Interpretation of GATT General Exceptions 245 Section Three- Commentary on the SPS and TBT Agreements 251 Section Four- Feasibility Analysis of Article 16 of China’s Foreign Trade Law 266 Appendix: The WTO’s New Explanation of GATT Article 20 and the SPS Agreement: the EU-GMO Agricultural Products Restrictions Case 282 One- Commentary on the Panel’s Interim Report 287 Two- The GMO Case and China’s Agricultural Security 292 Part Four: Reference 295 Copyright 302 Written by leading researchers in China, this book discusses the full impact of imports on China's economy and the implications for China's trading partners and the world. The effects and composition of China's imports are examined in detail and future trends are explored.